Government Approves Key Policies And Amendments

The administration has decided to grant a 50% exemption on vacant land tax during the construction period in land under urban and municipal jurisdictions. The cabinet approved the draft amendment bill for this on Friday.

Henceforth, companies which put up advertisements on hoardings, signboards, buses and autos in urban local bodies will have to obtain licenses. The cabinet approved the amendments to the Municipal Code pertaining to the licensing requirement. Information and Civil Relations Minister Parthasarathy briefed reporters about the cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Friday.

Six Companies Selected for Google Data Center Work

The government has brought the global IT company Google's data center to Visakhapatnam. Experienced companies identified for various construction works include:

Adani Infra India Private Limited

• Adani Conex India Private Limited
• Adani Power India Private Limited
• Bharti Airtel Limited
• Nextra Data
• Nextra Vizag Limited

An earlier agreement with Google remains unchanged. Approval was given following a request from Raiden.

Amendments in AYUSH and Allopathic Regulations

The Cabinet approved amendments to the AP Allopathic Private Care Establishment Registration and Regulation Act, 2002, with a view to develop AYUSH on par with allopathy. The amendment will make the registration of private AYUSH hospitals mandatory. It will also help bring in regulation of private medical institutions and ensure the protection of patients.

Other Key Approvals

• Voter Registration: All citizens aged 18 years and above can now register as voters four times a year: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each calendar year.
• Exemption of fire NOC fee: AIIMS, government hospitals, central government institutions, and APGENCO/APPDCL thermal power stations are exempt from payment of fees towards fire NOCs.
• Appointments: 16 posts approved for the AP Food Processing Society on deputation, contract & outsourcing basis.
• Loan for Kharif Procurement: The Cabinet gave its nod for a loan of Rs.5,000 crores through AP Markfed for working capital to procure kharif grain for 2025-26 and ratified the GO issued earlier to that effect.